Small waves and a steady offshore wind offered ideal conditions for taking to the air during the South Bay Boardriders ET Surf contest at 26th Street in Manhattan Beach on February 10. Photos by Scott Harris…

Best outdoor dining: Hennessey’s Taverns

Hennessey’s Tavern has had a monopoly on the outdoor dining category for some time. And while the street-side tables at the Redondo and Manhattan locations are great, we all know it’s the roof-top patio at Hennessey’s Hermosa that brings home the bacon.

Right on the corner of Pier Plaza and the strand, the roof-top at Hennessey’s provides panoramic views from Palos Verdes to Malibu. The dozen tables are sought-after regardless of weather thanks to heat lamps and sun shades, and locals and tourists will wait upwards of two hours to enjoy their pub grub while watching the waves.

There is also a tiny, four-stool bar on the roof where solo patrons can pull up a chair and get in on the fun. The waitstaff is friendly, the food consistent, and the atmosphere unsurpassed. It makes you wonder how and why no other South Bay restaurant has managed to equip itself with roof-top dining.